Two passengers remain hospitalized, no casualties following Delta crash in Toronto where safety features saved lives

Just two passengers remain in the hospital following a Delta Air Lines crash at Toronto Pearson International Airport on Monday, while all other injured individuals have been released, the airline confirmed, according to the National Post. The cause of the crash is still under investigation and is expected to be determined within days.  

The crash involved Delta flight DL4819, a CRJ-900 aircraft arriving from Minneapolis. As the plane landed around 2:00 pm local time (19:00 GMT), it appeared to strike the runway, skid for some distance, and then flip over, losing its tail and a wing before coming to a stop upside down. Despite the severity of the crash, all 80 people on board—76 passengers and four crew members—survived.  

Passengers described being left hanging upside down in their seats before making their way over scattered luggage to exit onto the snowy runway. Investigators are considering multiple factors, including harsh winter conditions and the possibility that the aircraft struck an object on the runway.  

"The sheer survivability of this is really amazing," FAA-licensed pilot Dan Ronan told the BBC, noting that the fuselage remained intact. Analysts have pointed to the aircraft’s safety features, including its high-impact 16G seats, which are "designed to absorb a great deal of punishment," as a key reason.

Former FAA inspector David Soucie noted that the plane broke apart as designed, with the detachment of the wings preventing further structural damage to the fuselage.

Emergency crews reached the crash site within minutes, and flight attendants were praised for efficiently evacuating passengers. "What I saw was everyone on that plane suddenly became very close in terms of how to help one another, how to console one another," a passenger said.  

Air traffic control recordings reviewed by experts indicate there were no signs of trouble before landing.

Investigators will continue to analyze flight data and weather conditions to determine the exact cause of the crash.